Step by step towards Fuel from the Field

Hesse could soon be developed into a new biofuel region. At the beginning of the year the state of Hesse joined the cooperation on the development, production and introduction of a synthetic fuel from biomass arranged between Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and Volkswagen. In 2003 this move was prompted by the EU biofuel directive, according to which biofuel must account for 5.75% of fuel energy consumption by 2010. In addition biofuel plays an important role in the fuel strategy of the German federal government, which matches with the essential points of Volkswagen’s strategy.

The cooperation wants to investigate all necessary requirements concerning the construction of a biomass infrastructure in Germany. These include first and foremost exact knowledge of environmental conditions of the farmland, criteria for the choice of crops and the crop sequence and information on harvesting, pre-processing steps like drying and transportation of the raw product.

If the 1.1 million abandoned hectares of EU subsidised farmland in Germany and farmland released through the reduction of overproduction were used, around half of all German diesel powered passenger cars could be run on biofuel, also known as SunDiesel. For the federal states involved the agreement is also significant for research and business, because it is expected to generate income and secure jobs especially in farming.

Challenge for forestry and farming

“The signing of the cooperation with Volkswagen is another important step for the use of biomass in Hesse. The state has set itself a target, to increase the share of renewable energy to 15 % of the total final energy consumption by 2015. To do that the biggest largely untapped potential lies in the area of agricultural and forestry biomass”, said the Hessian Environmental Minister Wilhelm Dietzel at the signing of the agreement. Biogenic fuels manufactured from raw materials from Hesse would be an important project for the future. The market potential of synthetic fuel is estimated to cover between 4 and 8% of the total fuel market by 2020. Until then extensive research and development work needs to be done, both in plant and process technology and also the processes of low cost and eco-friendly biomass production and preparation.

“That is a challenge for farming and forestry which we want to take on in Hesse", highlighted Dietzel. The state of Hesse would carry out independent technical research, above all concerned with maximising the yield in agricultural production of plant biomass. The Minister emphasised, that the development of scientific foundations for a new technology, like the production of synthetic fuels needs early and close cooperation with the concerned businesses and other German states, for example in coordinating research projects and the acquisition of EU subsidies.

Hesse wants to contribute three research projects to the collaboration.
The screening of species of triticale (synthetic wheat and rye hybrid) and wheat for suitability for biomass production.
The development of an agronomic production systems/two culture systems for biomass production.
Practical project for planting quick-growing tree species.

Reliable general conditions required

The work results will be continuously exchanged with the other federal states. There complementary scientifical work is already running. Group Research at Volkswagen has taken over the task of coordinating the project and supports the federal states in the acquisition of third party funding. Concerning the plans of the German government to reintroduce tax on biofuels, Dietzler said “I am working for reliable general conditions for the biofuel market.” Tax concessions without overcompensating for the additional costs of blending biogenic components with conventional fuels and tax exemption for pure biogenic fuels, like SunDiesel, are essential in the long run. The still young and booming biofuel market with its positive effects in the countryside must not be jeopardised through short-term political change, emphasised the Environmental Minister.